A snake battles to eat a crocodile at Lake Moondarra near Mt Isa. Photo: Marvin Muller

Snake expert Associate Professor Bryan Fry, from the University of Queensland’s School of Biological Science, said while water pythons usually targeted smaller animals and rodents, small fresh water crocodiles were easy prey.

‘‘Crocs are more dangerous to catch but easier to sneak up on,’’ he said at the time.

Photographer Marvin Muller captured the battle on film and his photographs have now been syndicated to news organisations around the world including the UK, France, Spain, Finland, Lithuania, US, Sweden, Denmark, China, and Panama.

So far, he has collected about $26,900 which has been shared with a mate.

"A mate had ridden by the area - actually a picnic/children's play area - while the snake was strangling the croc, he then rode back to Mount Isa grabbed his camera gave me a call and we both headed out to check out the action,'' he said.

He had used the money to pay off his car and bankroll a trip to Tonga where he plans to swim with whales, he told ABC North West Queensland.